Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Pop-Up Decor

Loving the new Chanel spring show with these amazing cut-out paper florals. Wouldn't a 'pop-up' wedding be a great theme? I can imagine all sorts of whimsical details. To get you started, there's always Paper Source's series of flower kits. (via Oh Joy!)

Colorography: Sentimental Shades

It's not too often that I'm really struck--I mean, with a strong visceral reaction--by a combination of colors. For some reason, the palette behind these tees got me: they're the color of my childhood. Light aqua, light lavender, a faint peach and grey. Maybe it's a New England thing. There's something so sweet and fine there. Like wild irises. Or icicles clinging to the eaves. I can't place it but I think one of my first memories of beauty had to do with this scheme. Ever had an experience like this?

Oh, and, by the way, if you haven't seen it, the new JCrew spring collection is wonderful...! If you were to do a wedding in any of their color combinations, it couldn't help but be an aesthetic success.

Sweet Find: Bonpoint

Parisian designs for the little ones--Bonpoint has some utterly charming clothes.

Oscar (Wedding) Fashion

How wonderful were all the light dresses at the Oscars--are you seeing a trend here too? The draping, the pleats, the glittering satin...I was starry-eyed! Penelope Cruz may just be my favorite actress--I lovelovelove this movie. More white dresses to be found on etsy.

Sweet Find: Dosa

Oh, Dosa--such fine organic designs. I absolutely love the use of subtle textures. Don't you just want to slip one of these on and just relax?

First Lady Style: Designer Isabel Toledo

Michelle Obama looked so elegant this morning in yellow brocade from Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. I just adore the lines she creates for each garment--such a rich array of shapes. Of her work, the curator of the Kent State Museum writes, "Effortless at first glance, her garments are actually painstakingly engineered to be fluid and comfortable and to feel familiar. Even the elaborate spinning helixes, suspended shapes and geometrical constructions are anchored with both pragmatism and poetry." Truly.

(Images from here, here and here.)

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Vintage Purses

We all know about my love of Chlorine Los Angeles--could someone, please, live it up with one of these at your wedding? I don't think it gets too much more glamorous....

Sweet Find: Pippa Small

Speaking of, have I mentioned I'm completely enamored by Pippa Small's work? The jewels are simply vibrant. Her pieces can be found at Twist.

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: A Feathery Find

I was checking out these new lovelies from JCrew and couldn't help but think they would look soooooo fabulous with a K. Autumn hair flora...! If I were to do it all over again as a winter bride, I think one of these little combos would be a must. (Have you noticed this trend? I'm simply obsessed with wedding accessories--even more than the dresses themselves! Hmmmm! What's the story here?)

Wedding Rewind: Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance

Caroline emailed today (hi!) asking me about the red shoes I wore for our little wedding this summer. I first heard about them on Oh Happy Day back in February and snapped them up for my warm weather kicks. I didn't even plan to wear the little numbers at the wedding--I had a pair of nice gold Kate Spades tucked in my closet but chickened out on the heels at the last minute (for a full wedding day comfort was going to have to rule!). You can still find the sandals at Piperlime and on sale (just size 8 though!). As you might guess, they come highly recommended. They dance like a dream, ladies....

Sweet Find: Sanchia Playfair

This cashmere capelet from Sanchia Playfair with the fine gold weave could be such a unique and sophisticated wedding accessory, don't you think? Plus, check out these rockin' patterned scarves--I'm head-over-heels!

Pretty Primer: Joie de Vivre

Sugared almond. Honeysuckle. Egyptian jasmine. Lychee flower. I know a poet who once worked for a French perfume company. Doing what? Writing fragrance descriptions. Talk about a dream job! Recently, I've gotten hooked on reading about the lushest of the lush scents. Some detail the most evocative, lyrical moments. What are your favorites? How would you write your own perfume poem?

UPDATE: Cup of Jo reminded me how much I've been wanting to check out this perfumery (or anti-perfumery). Has anyone enjoyed CB's scents?

(Top left image from here--a little Marc Jacobs for a Saturday night.)

Sweet Find: M&S Schmalberg

This post is entirely about beauty. I've just got to indulge in several of these shots. M&S Schmalberg, maker of custom flowers--what a trade to be in! For more, see the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, 'The Golden Touch' feature, these pink and gold flowers trailing down a sash...ever so elegant.

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Sara Gabriel

My new copy of Martha Stewart Weddings arrived a couple days ago and leafing through I found an ad for Sara Gabriel veils and headpieces--oolala! The designs are so soft and light. I'm not really a veil girl myself but the birdcage numbers would be just too pretty with a sassy tea-length dress. Not to mention, the floor-length monogram veil--what a wonderful heirloom that would make! More and more, I think a few well-chosen accessories can be such a great way to up the style quotient while saving money on your dress.

Sweet Find: Anthropologie on Sale

This rustic little shrug is on sale--$39!--and I'm thinking it would look so nice on the bride getting married on a cool, cloudy, romantic coastline somewhere--Nantucket, Maine, Prince Edward Island, Portland, Seattle.... I mean, the detail on the button is just, well, sweet.

And for me, I'm thinking about a pair of these folksy numbers and a cup of tea to keep me warm:



I don't know about where you are but it's really feeling like late September here--what a grey day we're having! We bought our first pumpkin yesterday and I think I'm off to make some bread...! Happy Tuesday, all!